Beat ovarian cancer - be aware of the symptoms

By Ovacome

In the news

01 March 2010 00:00

The ovarian cancer support network charity Ovacome has launched its BEAT Ovarian Cancer awareness campaign - which for the first time, is an international initiative, actively engaging GPs.

BEAT is based on an easy-to-remember checklist for women and GPs:

B - is for Bloating - it's persistent and doesn't come and g
E - is for Eating - difficulty eating and feeling full more quickly than you used to
A - is for Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days
T - is for Talking - Tell your GP

As a rule of thumb, if women regularly experience any of the three BEAT signs of ovarian cancer most days - and that this is not normal for her - she should see her GP.

It is unlikely that these symptoms are caused by the disease, but it is important to get ovarian cancer ruled out.

To help women start a conversation with their GP about these symptoms, by recording the frequency of the symptoms, Ovacome has launched a BEAT Ovarian Cancer symptoms tool online at ovacome.org.uk/beat

If there are two or more cases of ovarian or breast cancer in a woman's close family, she should also tell her GP, as ovarian cancer can sometimes run in families. It's important that women aren't overly worried by the symptoms list, as ovarian cancer is rare. But they should monitor their body, be aware of any changes and don't automatically rule out cancer - whatever their age.

The three symptoms of BEAT are the ones which were identified as being the key indicators of the disease in a Consensus Statement published in October 2008 by ovarian cancer charities, scientists and doctors.

Mother of two Laurain Chapman from Pett in East Sussex believes that she was living with ovarian cancer for at least a year before it was finally suspected during a third examination by a GP.

Laurain Chapman presented with classic ovarian cancer symptoms when she went to see her GP in spring 2005 with persistent pain in her lower abdomen. However, despite being aged 56 and her symptoms causing considerable discomfort, her GP suggested it could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome. “I definitely think that this was the start of it,” says Laurain, who at the time told her GP that she was concerned as her younger sister had died 18 months before of pancreatic cancer aged 48. “I was very aware that it could be cancer at this time and was not happy with these funny pains. I’d never had gynae problems before,” she adds.

Her GP did however send Laurain to see a gastroenterologist, but the ultrasound failed to pick anything up. Satisfied that everything seemed to be okay, Laurain got on with her busy life, combining her job as an administration manager at a building company with her love of golf, tennis, walking and swimming and keeping in touch with her two grown-up children who have moved abroad. “If I’d been more of a hypochondriac perhaps I would have stopped and thought that things were not okay. But I had the reassurance from the experts and I went away and got on with my life not thinking much more about it,” says Laurain. “I’ve always had a healthy diet and I do regular exercise at my health club. I play tennis and golf and swim and am reasonably fit for my age.”

However, a year later in March 2006, after an energetic holiday in India, Laurain began to feel extremely uncomfortable with a bloated stomach. She had also lost her appetite and had a strong feeling that something sinister was at play. “I’ve always had a bit of a tummy, but the bloating happened very quickly. I just felt very uncomfortable and my trousers had become tight. It felt like I was pregnant, that everything was being stretched and moved around inside.” However, again her GP dismissed her symptoms as being nothing more than IBS.

Fortunately for Laurain she was booked in for a smear a couple of weeks later and during the examination she mentioned her concerns to the nurse. The nurse referred Laurain to another doctor from the surgery and it was decided that Laurain should be seen by a gynaecologist. It was at this meeting on April 3 that she was told that she had in fact stage III ovarian cancer – with a tumour on each of her ovaries and the cancer having spread to the lining of her bowel.

“I am a classic case of being misdiagnosed. You kind of expect your doctor to know the symptoms of a major disease like this. After my case he was quite upset about it and everyone at his surgery is now very aware of the symptoms,” says Laurain. “But my experience shows that there is a definite need for the profile of the disease to be raised so that doctors and patients are much more aware of its symptoms and consider it as an option earlier, without dismissing the patient as having IBS or side effects of the menopause, which I now realise so often happens.”

Laurain was referred to Maidstone Hospital where her treatment began with seven litres of liquid being removed from her abdomen on April 18.

This was followed up on April 28 with a course of chemotherapy every three weeks for five sessions to shrink the tumours. Then she was given a full hysterectomy and she had her omentum removed, followed by another two sessions of chemo which finished in October 2006.

Laurain is in remission. She is still having checkups every six months and living with the fear that one day the cancer may return. “You have to live with the possibility that it could come back and I’m living every day now to the full.”